GIA Blog

The BFA’s Dance with Inequality
Posted on by Steve

Createquity looks into the value of a degree in the visual or performing arts through the equity lens:

If you took home a diploma for a four-year degree in the visual or performing arts last weekend, you’re not alone: in the U.S., more than 91,000 college graduates are venturing out into the world with BFAs or their equivalent in hand. They are more likely to be from upper and middle class households than grads from other majors, with an average family income of $94,381. Only about 10% of them, if one report is to be believed, will actually become full-time professional artists.
The Kresge Foundation Announces Recipients of New FreshLo Grant Program
Posted on by Monica

From The Kresge Foundation:

Twenty-six organizations across the nation will receive nearly $2 million in grant funding to develop food-oriented initiatives in cities across the nation. Dubbed “FreshLo” – for “Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization” – the initiative is a joint effort by Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program and Health Program. Nonprofit organizations and coalitions from across the nation will receive $75,000 planning awards through FreshLo to design neighborhood-scale projects demonstrating creative, cross-sector visions of food-oriented development.
Race, Arts, and Education: A Call to Action
Posted on by Janet

An open letter from Richard Kessler, Dean of the Mannes School of Music and Executive Dean for Performing Arts, the New School and Janet Brown, President and CEO of Grantmakers in the Arts.

In the past few days, a growing controversy within the arts sector has emerged over alleged remarks made by the CEO of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) at a meeting of arts service organizations convened by the National Endowment for the Arts. As two arts executives who have spent a large part of our careers advocating for equitable access to high quality arts education and as members of the Steering Committee of Grantmakers in the Arts Arts Education Funders Coalition, an effort to enhance and develop arts education policies at the federal level, we are compelled to offer this public letter.

The Field Foundation of Illinois Names Angelique Power as President
Posted on by Monica

The board of directors at The Field Foundation of Illinois has announced the selection of Angelique Power as its new president. Power has more than 20 years' experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors, previously serving as program director at The Joyce Foundation. She serves on the board of directors and racial equity board committee at Grantmakers in the Arts.

GIA’s Capitalization Work Recognized in Chronicle of Philanthropy Article
Posted on by Monica

A recent article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy highlights a growing trend among funders of moving beyond the "overhead myth" to supporting the "real costs" of nonprofits. Grantmakers in the Arts’ National Capitalization Project was highlighted as one effort working to move the needle on foundation support for nonprofit financial health. The article entitled “Foundations Show Signs of Moving Beyond ‘Overhead Myth’” is available to paid subscribers of The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

New from the GIA Reader: The Risk of Hopelessness
Posted on by Steve

In the latest issue of the GIA Reader is a transcript of an inspiring keynote presentation entitled “The Risk of Hopelessness” by Carlton Turner, executive director of Alternate ROOTS, about the legacy of racial injustice and the need for systemic change.

Salzburg Global Seminar Publishes Summary Report on Arts and Sustainability Session
Posted on by Monica

A report has been released summarizing the latest Salzburg Global Seminar session in the Culture, Arts and Society series – "Beyond Green: The Arts as a Catalyst for Sustainability." The report, written by Holly Sidford and Alexis Frasz of the Helicon Collaborative, covers discussions from the various plenary sessions, on the role of art, design, cities, philanthropy and policy to advance sustainability, as well as working group recommendations.

Intermedia Arts Releases Study on Options for Community Arts Training & Support
Posted on by Monica

Intermedia Arts, in conjunction with Americans for the Arts / Animating Democracy, has released a study called “Options for Community Arts Training & Support” conducted by William Cleveland and the Center for the Study of Art and Community. The purpose of the study is to provide greater understanding of the demand and availability of arts-based community development training and to investigate how the benefits of Intermedia Arts' Creative Community Leadership Institute could be made accessible for a broader range of communities. Part two of the study is a field scan of training and support opportunities related to community arts in the U.S.

GIA Podcast: Gay Hanna on Creative Aging and Her Retirement
Posted on by Steve

New on the GIA Podcast, we speak with Gay Hanna from the National Center for Creative Aging as she readies for retirement after serving over 30 years managing in the arts, education, and health sectors.

Do Artists Have a Competitive Edge in the Gig Economy?
Posted on by Monica

By Joanna Woronkowicz, writing for Creativz.us

Artists are all too familiar with the act of juggling multiple jobs in order to sustain their art work. While for many multiple jobholding is an economic necessity, as the original gig workers artists may have a competitive edge to sustaining work in the new gig economy. In other words, since artists have been effectively managing gig work for ages, we can learn something from observing the employment behavior of artists in terms of strategies for all workers on how to succeed in the gig economy.